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Fig. 2. The response of E. muelleri to mechanical agitation. (A–D)
Light micrographs illustrating the changes to the excurrent aquiferous system
(black arrows) during one inflation–contraction cycle. Choanosome (ch),
excurrent canals (ex), gemmule (g), incurrent canals (in), and osculum (osc).
Scale bar, 1 mm. (A) Initial contraction of the osculum: immediately after
stimulation the base of the osculum contracts but the tip remains slightly
open. (B) Inflation phase: excurrent canals dilate (black arrows); the base of
the osculum begins to dilate, but the tip remains constricted (white arrows);
hollow arrows indicate the locations of peripheral (p), middle (m) and central
(c) canals. (C) Contraction phase: excurrent canals contract (black arrows)
and the base of the osculum dilates (white arrow). (D) Contraction of the
osculum (arrow) and return of canals to their original diameter. A–D
correspond to phases a–d, respectively, in (E–G)
below. (E–G) Changes in diameter of the largest excurrent canal and
osculum (E) during the inflation–contraction cycle, and of all canals on
the right (F) and left (G) sides of the sponge. R1–R4 and L1–L4 in
D indicate locations of measurements plotted in F and G. (See Movie 1 in
supplementary material.)
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